Brain tumours occur when cells in the brain grow out of control and form a mass. Tumours can develop from various types of cells in your brain, leading to more than 150 different types of brain tumours. Cancer that forms in another part of your body can also spread to your brain. Breast cancer, lung cancer, and melanoma are all types of tumours that can commonly travel to your brain and begin growing there.
Brain tumours aren’t always cancerous (malignant). About one out of three tumours in the brain do not turn into cancer that can grow and spread.
Brain tumours cause a wide range of symptoms depending on where they develop. They can also look very different from person to person. If you have a brain tumour, you may experience:
Cancerous brain tumours develop when a brain cell’s genes become damaged and the cell starts growing when it shouldn’t. As the cell quickly grows and divides, creating new cells, a mass or tumour forms.
Tumours — whether cancerous or not — can cause problems by putting pressure on or damaging healthy brain tissue. They can also increase fluid levels in your brain or raise pressure within your skull. These changes lead to brain tumour symptoms.
You are more likely to develop a brain tumour if you have a family history of brain cancer or if you have previously been exposed to a significant amount of radiation.
A brain tumour can be diagnosed using imaging tests such as a CT scan or MRI. Your doctor may also perform a neurological exam by testing various skills, including your vision, reflexes, and balance.
If a tumour is detected, your doctor may remove a small piece of the mass (perform a biopsy) so that the cells can be more closely studied. This helps your health care team determine whether your tumour is cancerous and, if so, what type of cancer you have.
The treatment that you receive may depend on your age and health as well as your tumour type, size, and location within your brain.
If you are healthy enough to undergo surgery and your tumour is in an accessible location, your health care team will usually recommend surgical removal of the tumour. This may be followed by treatments like:
You may also be able to improve symptoms of brain tumours through treatments like physical therapy, speech therapy, or occupational therapy.
In some cases, your doctor may recommend waiting to undergo treatment. This strategy, called active surveillance, involves regular testing to see whether your tumour is growing or causing symptoms. You may not need to receive treatment if the tumour does not seem to be causing any problems.